Community
GOING THE EXTRA MILES
WITH TEAM FOX
When Matt Ross was diagnosed with young-
onset Parkinson’s disease (PD), he immediately
wanted to help educate others about the
disease and start fundraising for a cure. He
soon came across the perfect opportunity in his
hometown: Team Fox’s Los Angeles Fox Trot 5K.
He signed up for the March 2017 run/walk
and shared his diagnosis with friends and
family. The support was overwhelming: He
raised $23,500, making him the event’s top
fundraiser. “It was a tangible way for people
to show support,” he said, “and I’ve been very
clear that it’s just the start!”
Mike Rowland
(right)
and his family
Matt was one of 21 people with Parkinson’s who
crossed the finish line in the event — and one
of more than 40 with PD nationwide who are
taking part in this year’s signature Fox Trot series,
which includes run/walks in New York, Boston
and California’s Bay Area. Together, they (along
with teams they’ve led) have raised $101,900…
and counting. (As this newsletter was going to
print, Matt was rallying colleagues at YouTube
for the Bay Area event on October 21.)
They are in great company. In recent years,
the PD community has led a groundswell
of support and participation for Team Fox
athletic events in their communities. Their local
efforts are adding up as they forge strong
connections and raise significant funds for the
Foundation’s work accelerating a cure.
Nowhere is this more apparent than Tour de
Fox, a series of four cycling events born out
of 2015’s cross-country biking and climbing
adventure uniting the PD community. In 2017,
nearly 100 riders with PD took on the rides
ranging from 10 to 75 miles, bringing in more
than $176,000 to help speed research.
One was Mike Rowland of Alabama, who was
diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago.
He and his family had been looking for a way
to get involved with the Foundation. After
Matt Ross at the Los Angeles Fox Trot 5K
learning about the newest stop on the Tour —
the Blue Ridge ride in South Carolina — they
started organizing a team.
“At the time, I didn’t own a bike and hadn’t
ridden one in years,” Mike admits. “But if my
dad, who turns 85 this year, was going to ride
40 miles, that was all the inspiration I needed.”
Heading into the weekend of the ride, their
team of 23 were on track to raise more than
$60,000 — and friends and family from New
York to Texas had signed up to cheer or ride
alongside Mike.
People with PD are critical to Team Fox
athletics, whether taking on their first 3-mile
walk or an endurance ride. Together, they
and their families and friends are furthering
Parkinson’s research, while demonstrating the
power of the PD community.
Take on a walking, cycling or other
physical challenge while supporting
Parkinson’s research: Find your event at
teamfox.org/athletics.
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The Fox Focus